A mining site ruin at Shasta State Historic Park in the now-deserted town of Shasta City, west of Redding. A row of old, half-ruined brick buildings reminds passing motorists that Shasta City, the lusty "Queen City" of California's northern mining district, once stood on this site. These ruins and some nearby roads, cottages, and cemeteries are all silent but eloquent vestiges of the intense activity centered here during the California gold rush.

The old county courthouse was restored to its appearance in 1861 when it was converted from commercial uses to the Shasta County Courthouse. Today the building is filled with historical exhibits and a collection of historic California artwork that make it the central figure of Shasta State Historic Park. Photo by Carol Highsmith, 2012.